January 2012
Codex Alimentarius – GMA White Paper
Background:
Codex Alimentarius was established in 1963 and is jointly funded by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations (UN). Codex was established to develop international food standards under the dual mandate: protecting the health of consumers and facilitating fair trade in food products. More than 180 countries are members of Codex. Codex standards establish a consistent regulatory baseline and are adopted by many developing countries as national standards.
The creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 dramatically enhanced the influence of Codex as a scientific body. Although Codex standards are voluntary, the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) Agreement directly references Codex and requires national government to justify measures that are more restrictive on risk assessment. If not, they can be challenged through the WTO dispute settlement process.
GMA serves as the secretariat to International Council of Grocery Manufacturer Associations (ICGMA) which represents food trade associations worldwide and has status in Codex as an accredited International Non Governmental Organization (INGO). GMA also provides leadership for the Food Industry Codex Coalition (FICC). which includes representatives from over 70 food companies and trade associations including the entire food and feed chain from production to retail.. Through this leadership, GMA directly influences the development of many key Codex standards.
Currently, GMA staff participates in the work of ten Codex Committees and task forces and the Codex Alimentarius Commission and monitors work of other committees. This includes participating in physical and electronic working groups, international outreach and submitting commentsas appropriate . GMA also provides the leadership for the Food Industry Codex Coalition (FICC GMA also monitors the work of other international organizations such as ISO as it relates to food safety standards and engages as appropriate to influence that work. Beginning in 2009 GMA helped to launch the Partnership Training Institute Network (PTIN) within APEC which will focus on food safety training and reinforce the importance of basing standards on best international practices. GMA continues to work with members of Congress and the Administration to ensure budget appropriations provide adequate dedicated funding for the U.S. Codex office and to strengthen the management of the U.S. Codex office.
Codex Committees of priority interest for GMA include:
Food Hygiene (CCFH) Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)
Food Labeling (CCFL) Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)
General Principles (CCGP) Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification (CCFICS)
Food Additives (CCFA) Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV)
Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)
Status of GMA Identified Priorities for 2012:
General Standard for Food Additives / Work progresses incrementally. / Strong support from GMA members as trade facilitator.. GMA participates in ewg and co-chairs an active industry working group. Oppose Note 161. / Maia Jack
Principles of Science / Codex Principles of Science were adopted in 1994 and “Other Legitimate Factors” in 1997. Work on Step 8 standards in CCGP provides an opportunity to reopen the criteria for “factors’ to include consumer preferences in conjunction with / GMA has been diligent in working to protect the Science base of Codex, strongly opposes reopening the discussion on OLFs to consider consumer preferences in international standards. / Peggy Rochette
Implementation of WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health / In 2009 new work was initiated in the labeling and nutrition committees on key nutrients and labeling presentation. In 2011 CAC agreed to nutrients that should always be declared in labeling. Ewg work continues on mandatory nutrition labeling. No agreement was reached on labeling terms: salt and sodium. CCNFSDU eworking group will develop reference values for key nutrients. / GMA opposes symbols but supports the new work advanced by CCFL hoping it may bring some consistency to nutrition labeling rules globally. GMA opposed labeling for “salt.”
GMA is participating in work related to this issue in both the labeling and nutrition committees. / Regina Hildwine
Sarah Levy
Guidelines for National Control Systems / Approved as new work by CAC in July 2009. It is intended to be an umbrella document related to national food safety infrastructure system. It is progressing slowly. / GMA believes that this work may have important trade consequences and is likely to strongly influence inspection standards in the developing world. It has strong linkages to FSMA. / Peggy Rochette
Melamine – Maximum Residue Levels in Liquid Infant Formula / In 2011, the CAC returned the ML to CCCF because of a footnote exclusion on packaging / This responds to the 2007 recalls related to foods adulterated by melamine. Several GMA companies are very interested in this work. / Nancy Rachman
Principles for Sampling and Testing in International Food Trade / Approved as new work for CCMAS in 2011 / GMA believes this could be a very useful document for trade and views this as a high priority / Shana Cole
Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients / Forwarded by CCNFSDU to the CAC for approval as new work in 2009. / GMA strongly supports Codex work on food fortification. / Sarah Levy
Principles for the Establishment of Microbiological Criteria for Foods / Approved as new work for CCFH 2009. Working group in 2012 will focus on developing practical examples. / GMA supports this work and has been actively engaged in development. / Emily Mathusa
Revision of Risk Analysis Principles / In 2010, CCCF was asked to review these principles to prepare separate principles for contaminants and natural toxins in food and feed. / GMA is closely monitoring this work for consistency with the overarching principles for Codex and those in other Committees. Oppose inclusion of the precautionary principle. / Nancy Rachman
Contact:Peggy Rochette, Senior Director, International Policy (202) 639-5921 or